The Story of Luke Siegel
Luke Siegel was a joyful, kind-hearted, and athletic kid who loved nothing more than playing and watching sports with his dad, Tim. While visiting a friend's house, Luke was riding in a modified golf cart that belonged to the family. The golf cart flipped, and Luke was seriously injured. When Tim arrived at the hospital, he was told, "Luke was in a cardiac arrest for 7 minutes. He's suffered head and chest trauma." From that moment, life changed for the Siegel family.
Just 20 days before the accident, Tim Siegel had resigned from his 23-year career as the Texas Tech Men's Tennis coach to spend more time with his family.
Based on Luke's MRI, the doctors told his family that Luke would never use his limbs, open his eyes, or use his voice. Following the MRI, Luke spent the next 6 months in intensive treatments, surgeries, and therapies. Because of the care he had received, Luke was able to do all three of those things. "My little Luke was the greatest fighter I've ever seen," says Tim.
In 2021, Luke passed away after a brief battle with COVID. But his story didn't end there. Through caring for Luke, Tim saw the overwhelming gaps in support for families facing pediatric brain injury. Determined to change that, he founded Team Luke, now known as Hope for Minds, so that no family has to walk that journey alone.
Luke's Legacy
Luke's story is a foundational part of why we exist. His life continues to inspire and drive our work forward every day.
To honor him, we created Luke's Legacy Grants, a financial assistance program designed to support families facing the overwhelming costs of care. Many essential treatments and pieces of equipment are not covered by insurance, a reality that is too common in the brain injury community.
As families navigate the emotional weight of a life-altering diagnosis, the last thing they should have to worry about is how to afford their child's recovery. Each month, we award Luke's Legacy Grants to three families, offering not just financial relief but a true beacon of hope during an incredibly difficult time.
